diff --git a/src/microplex_us/pipelines/us.py b/src/microplex_us/pipelines/us.py
index 41d8fc9..379f14a 100644
--- a/src/microplex_us/pipelines/us.py
+++ b/src/microplex_us/pipelines/us.py
@@ -10151,6 +10151,27 @@ def first_present(*columns: str) -> pd.Series:
                     )
             return zero.copy()
 
+        def first_nonzero_or_present(*columns: str) -> pd.Series:
+            values = zero.copy()
+            found = False
+            for column in columns:
+                if column not in result.columns:
+                    continue
+                candidate = (
+                    pd.to_numeric(
+                        result[column],
+                        errors="coerce",
+                    )
+                    .fillna(0.0)
+                    .astype(float)
+                )
+                if not found:
+                    values = candidate.copy()
+                    found = True
+                    continue
+                values = values.where(values.ne(0.0), candidate)
+            return values if found else zero.copy()
+
         def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
             return any(column in result.columns for column in columns)
 
@@ -10272,14 +10293,17 @@ def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
             result["takes_up_ssi_if_eligible"] = first_present("ssi").gt(0.0)
 
         known_nonemployment = (
-            first_present("self_employment_income")
-            + first_present("taxable_interest_income", "interest_income")
-            + first_present("ordinary_dividend_income", "dividend_income")
+            first_nonzero_or_present(
+                "self_employment_income_before_lsr",
+                "self_employment_income",
+            )
+            + first_nonzero_or_present("taxable_interest_income", "interest_income")
+            + first_nonzero_or_present("ordinary_dividend_income", "dividend_income")
             + first_present("rental_income")
             + first_present("gross_social_security", "social_security")
             + first_present("ssi")
             + first_present("public_assistance")
-            + first_present("taxable_pension_income", "pension_income")
+            + first_nonzero_or_present("taxable_pension_income", "pension_income")
             + first_present("unemployment_compensation")
         )
         fallback_employment_income = (
@@ -10290,7 +10314,7 @@ def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
         ).clip(lower=0.0)
 
         result["employment_income_before_lsr"] = (
-            first_present(
+            first_nonzero_or_present(
                 "employment_income_before_lsr", "employment_income", "wage_income"
             )
             if has_any(
@@ -10298,11 +10322,11 @@ def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
             )
             else fallback_employment_income
         )
-        result["self_employment_income_before_lsr"] = first_present(
+        result["self_employment_income_before_lsr"] = first_nonzero_or_present(
             "self_employment_income_before_lsr",
             "self_employment_income",
         )
-        result["taxable_interest_income"] = first_present(
+        result["taxable_interest_income"] = first_nonzero_or_present(
             "taxable_interest_income",
             "interest_income",
         )
@@ -10315,17 +10339,21 @@ def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
         result["non_qualified_dividend_income"] = first_present(
             "non_qualified_dividend_income",
         ).clip(lower=0.0)
-        result["ordinary_dividend_income"] = first_present(
+        dividend_alias = first_nonzero_or_present(
             "ordinary_dividend_income",
             "dividend_income",
         ).clip(lower=0.0)
+        result["ordinary_dividend_income"] = dividend_alias
         if has_any("qualified_dividend_income", "non_qualified_dividend_income"):
             dividend_total = (
                 result["qualified_dividend_income"]
                 + result["non_qualified_dividend_income"]
             ).clip(lower=0.0)
-            result["ordinary_dividend_income"] = dividend_total
-            result["dividend_income"] = dividend_total
+            result["ordinary_dividend_income"] = dividend_total.where(
+                dividend_total.ne(0.0),
+                dividend_alias,
+            )
+            result["dividend_income"] = result["ordinary_dividend_income"]
         else:
             result = normalize_dividend_columns(result)
 
@@ -10335,15 +10363,17 @@ def has_any(*columns: str) -> bool:
             "capital_gains_distributions",
         )
         result["long_term_capital_gains_before_response"] = (
-            first_present(
+            first_nonzero_or_present(
                 "long_term_capital_gains_before_response",
                 "long_term_capital_gains",
+                "capital_gains",
             )
             if has_any(
                 "long_term_capital_gains_before_response",
                 "long_term_capital_gains",
+                "capital_gains",
             )
-            else first_present("capital_gains")
+            else zero.copy()
         )
         result["partnership_s_corp_income"] = first_present("partnership_s_corp_income")
         result["partnership_se_income"] = first_present("partnership_se_income")
diff --git a/src/microplex_us/variables.py b/src/microplex_us/variables.py
index 791cc7f..e8cb768 100644
--- a/src/microplex_us/variables.py
+++ b/src/microplex_us/variables.py
@@ -666,17 +666,22 @@ def normalize_dividend_columns(frame: pd.DataFrame) -> pd.DataFrame:
     result = frame.copy()
     qualified = _nonnegative_series(result, "qualified_dividend_income")
     non_qualified = _nonnegative_series(result, "non_qualified_dividend_income")
-    total = (
-        _nonnegative_series(result, "ordinary_dividend_income")
-        if "ordinary_dividend_income" in result.columns
-        else _nonnegative_series(result, "dividend_income")
-    )
+    ordinary_total = _nonnegative_series(result, "ordinary_dividend_income")
+    dividend_total = _nonnegative_series(result, "dividend_income")
+    if "ordinary_dividend_income" in result.columns:
+        total = ordinary_total.where(ordinary_total.ne(0.0), dividend_total)
+    else:
+        total = dividend_total
 
     has_qualified = "qualified_dividend_income" in result.columns
     has_non_qualified = "non_qualified_dividend_income" in result.columns
 
     if has_qualified and has_non_qualified:
-        normalized_total = qualified + non_qualified
+        component_total = qualified + non_qualified
+        total_only = component_total.eq(0.0) & total.gt(0.0)
+        non_qualified = non_qualified.where(~total_only, total)
+        component_total = qualified + non_qualified
+        normalized_total = component_total.where(component_total.ne(0.0), total)
     elif has_qualified:
         normalized_total = np.maximum(total.to_numpy(dtype=float), qualified.to_numpy(dtype=float))
         non_qualified = pd.Series(
diff --git a/tests/pipelines/test_us.py b/tests/pipelines/test_us.py
index 99a0244..e59e92f 100644
--- a/tests/pipelines/test_us.py
+++ b/tests/pipelines/test_us.py
@@ -4919,6 +4919,52 @@ def test_augment_policyengine_person_inputs_materializes_agi_parity_inputs(self)
         assert augmented["self_employed_health_insurance_ald"].tolist() == [15.0]
         assert augmented["self_employed_pension_contribution_ald"].tolist() == [10.0]
 
+    def test_augment_policyengine_person_inputs_coalesces_sparse_source_aliases_by_row(
+        self,
+    ):
+        pipeline = USMicroplexPipeline(USMicroplexBuildConfig())
+        persons = pd.DataFrame(
+            {
+                "age": [45, 50, 55],
+                "sex": [1, 2, 1],
+                "income": [60_000.0, 75_000.0, 0.0],
+                "employment_income_before_lsr": [0.0, 70_000.0, 0.0],
+                "wage_income": [50_000.0, 80_000.0, 0.0],
+                "self_employment_income_before_lsr": [0.0, 200.0, -300.0],
+                "self_employment_income": [500.0, 999.0, 50.0],
+                "taxable_interest_income": [0.0, 20.0, 0.0],
+                "interest_income": [100.0, 999.0, 0.0],
+                "ordinary_dividend_income": [0.0, 30.0, 0.0],
+                "dividend_income": [80.0, 999.0, 0.0],
+                "qualified_dividend_income": [0.0, 5.0, 0.0],
+                "non_qualified_dividend_income": [0.0, 25.0, 0.0],
+                "long_term_capital_gains_before_response": [0.0, 60.0, -10.0],
+                "long_term_capital_gains": [40.0, 999.0, 0.0],
+                "capital_gains": [999.0, 999.0, 25.0],
+            }
+        )
+
+        augmented = pipeline._augment_policyengine_person_inputs(persons)
+
+        assert augmented["employment_income_before_lsr"].tolist() == [
+            50_000.0,
+            70_000.0,
+            0.0,
+        ]
+        assert augmented["self_employment_income_before_lsr"].tolist() == [
+            500.0,
+            200.0,
+            -300.0,
+        ]
+        assert augmented["taxable_interest_income"].tolist() == [100.0, 20.0, 0.0]
+        assert augmented["ordinary_dividend_income"].tolist() == [80.0, 30.0, 0.0]
+        assert augmented["dividend_income"].tolist() == [80.0, 30.0, 0.0]
+        assert augmented["long_term_capital_gains_before_response"].tolist() == [
+            40.0,
+            60.0,
+            -10.0,
+        ]
+
     def test_augment_policyengine_person_inputs_derives_marital_status_flags_from_cps_codes(
         self,
     ):
diff --git a/tests/test_variables.py b/tests/test_variables.py
index 05af542..1040584 100644
--- a/tests/test_variables.py
+++ b/tests/test_variables.py
@@ -45,6 +45,24 @@ def test_normalize_dividend_columns_prefers_atomic_components_over_totals():
     assert normalized["dividend_income"].tolist() == [42.0]
 
 
+def test_normalize_dividend_columns_coalesces_sparse_total_aliases_by_row():
+    frame = pd.DataFrame(
+        {
+            "ordinary_dividend_income": [0.0, 30.0, 0.0],
+            "dividend_income": [80.0, 999.0, 0.0],
+            "qualified_dividend_income": [0.0, 5.0, 0.0],
+            "non_qualified_dividend_income": [0.0, 25.0, 0.0],
+        }
+    )
+
+    normalized = normalize_dividend_columns(frame)
+
+    assert normalized["qualified_dividend_income"].tolist() == [0.0, 5.0, 0.0]
+    assert normalized["non_qualified_dividend_income"].tolist() == [80.0, 25.0, 0.0]
+    assert normalized["ordinary_dividend_income"].tolist() == [80.0, 30.0, 0.0]
+    assert normalized["dividend_income"].tolist() == [80.0, 30.0, 0.0]
+
+
 def test_normalize_social_security_columns_tracks_unclassified_residual():
     frame = pd.DataFrame(
         {